Air India Reduces Flight Schedule Amid Operational Challenges, ET TravelWorld

Air India has initiated a temporary reduction of just under 5 percent in its narrowbody flight operations, impacting select domestic and short-haul international routes through to 15 July 2025. The move is being framed as a voluntary stabilisation measure aimed at enhancing on-time performance, reducing last-minute cancellations, and supporting operational continuity across its network.

The decision follows a wider internal review of the airline’s operational resilience, launched in the wake of the fatal AI171 crash earlier this month. That incident, which involved a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner on the Ahmedabad–London Gatwick route, prompted increased scrutiny from India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and led to mandatory inspections across the fleet.

In this second phase of network recalibration, Air India has temporarily suspended three routes — Bengaluru–Singapore (AI2392/2393), Pune–Singapore (AI2111/2110), and Mumbai–Bagdogra (AI551/552). These suspensions are effective until mid-July, after which services are expected to be reassessed.

In addition to the route suspensions, frequency reductions have been applied to 19 city pairs, including high-volume corridors such as Delhi–Mumbai (down from 176 to 165 weekly flights), Delhi–Kolkata (70 to 63), and Delhi–Hyderabad (84 to 76). Other key routes affected include Delhi–Goa, Mumbai–Coimbatore, and Mumbai–Ahmedabad.

The airline has stated that the schedule changes are being implemented proactively to improve network-wide reliability and avoid unplanned cancellations. A spokesperson noted that the reductions are “voluntary and short-term in nature,” and were introduced following an internal operational assessment.

Passenger support protocols have been activated, with Air India contacting affected travellers directly to offer complimentary rescheduling, alternative flight options, or full refunds. The revised schedules have been updated across all digital and contact centre platforms to ensure transparency and convenience.

The narrowbody schedule adjustment follows a previous cut of approximately 15 per cent to widebody international services earlier this month. That decision also stemmed from the AI171 incident and its operational ripple effects, which include increased aircraft inspection turnaround times and limited availability of replacement capacity.

According to sources, the airline is currently managing temporary shortages in both aircraft and trained crew, exacerbated by a tight global aircraft leasing environment and the staggered induction of new Airbus A320neo units. The impact of regional airspace disruptions — including rerouted flight paths over conflict zones — has also added to scheduling pressures.

Unlike low-cost carriers such as IndiGo and Akasa Air, which continue to scale operations with younger fleets and streamlined models, Air India’s challenge lies in navigating a legacy-heavy operational framework while undergoing a fleet and systems overhaul under the Tata Group’s transformation plan.

Despite the cutbacks, Air India maintains nearly 600 daily flights across its narrowbody network, covering over 120 domestic and regional routes. The airline reaffirmed that these changes are temporary and will be reviewed in mid-July based on operational stability, aircraft availability, and crew readiness.

Air India has reiterated its commitment to operational excellence, safety-first service delivery, and customer-centric recovery efforts. As the airline progresses through this phase of transition, it has signalled that schedule realism and long-term trust-building remain top priorities in its network strategy.